2012 Georgia Bulldogs have reasons to be optimistic, pessimistic
FIVE REASONS . . .
Georgia lost its last two games of the 2011 season, the final one an excruciating affair that actually came down in triple overtime to Michigan State. But the Bulldogs also won 10 games in a row, captured the SEC Eastern Division championship and reached the SEC title game for the first time since 2005.
Even after the recent decision of All-America tight end Orson Charles to enter the NFL draft a year early, the Bulldogs will welcome back 16 starters in 2012, including nine on the No. 5-ranked defense. So there will be high expectations again for Georgia. Here are some reasons to believe they’ll meet those expectations, and some reasons to believe they might not.
Reasons for optimism
- Defense wins championships. At least that was the message delivered by Alabama and LSU. The only two teams ranked above Georgia in total defense played for the national championship, which the Crimson Tide won in a shut out. The Bulldogs’ return two All-Americans on that side of the ball in outside linebacker Jarvis Jones and safety Bacarri Rambo, while the seven other returnees all have all-conference potential. Leading the way will be third-year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who will be carrying a new three-year contract.
- New blood in backfield. If competition breeds success, then the Bulldogs’ tailbacks should be in position to have a lot of it. Injuries and disciplinary issues blunted an otherwise productive first season for Isaiah Crowell, whose 850 yards rushing were enough to get him named SEC Freshman of the Year. But Georgia is looking for more, so it went out and signed the nation’s No. 1 running back prospect for the second year in a row. Keith Marshall of Raleigh, N.C., is a 5-11, 190-pound speedster whose GPA (4.29) and 40-yard-dash time (4-3) are almost a perfect match. Georgia added a commitment Friday from Todd Gurley, another 4-star running back from North Carolina. So those guys will compete with Ken Malcome, Richard Samuel, Carlton Thomas and Brandon Harton for playing time. Expect the competition to be intense.
- Wide receiver corps returns intact. Entering 2011, who would catch Aaron Murray’s passes was one of the Bulldogs’ biggest question marks. As it turned out, Georgia’s receivers ended up being one of the team’s most consistent groups. The Bulldogs’ top five wideouts – who accounted for 2,204 yards between them – all return, including explosive playmakers Tavarres King and Malcolm Mitchell. Some highly-touted newcomers will join them in the fall.
- Aaron Murray’s arm. The Bulldogs’ rising junior quarterback has thrown for 6,198 yards and 59 touchdowns in his first two seasons as a starter and there’s no reason to believe he won’t top the 3,000-yard mark for a third consecutive season. If he could raise his career completion percentage (60) and lower his interception totals (22) even a little bit, Murray could become the truly elite quarterback most project him to be.
- Scheduling break: Georgia was supposed to play its second game of the season on the road against South Carolina and Game 6 on the road against defending champion Alabama in Tuscaloosa. But the SEC had to reshuffle schedules to accommodate new members Missouri and Texas A&M. Now the Bulldogs head to Columbia, Mo, in Week 2, don’t play the Gamecocks until Week 6 and will not have to face the Crimson Tide at all. With a non-conference slate that includes Buffalo, Florida Atlantic and Georgia Southern and missing Bama, LSU and Arkansas from the West again, a path appears to have been cleared to another big win total.
Reasons for pessimism
- Special teams issues. Georgia was horrible on special teams in 2011, a fact made even more shocking considering the optimism that abounded coming in. But nobody expected former All-American place-kicker Blair Walsh to have the worst season of his career or anticipated the drop off in the respective units’ coverage or protection abilities. Richt is confident that the talent will improve among the players on the various units. But breaking in a new place-kicker in freshman Marshall Morgan and a new punter is going to be a challenge.
- O-line rebuilding. Offensive line coach Will Friend worked wonders last season in transitioning Cordy Glenn and Justin Anderson into the tackle positions and negotiating injury issues at guard despite little depth. But that line’s weaknesses were exposed against top teams such as Boise State, LSU and Michigan State and now the Bulldogs will have to break in two more new tackles, along with team captain Ben Jones.
- Aaron Murray. Murray is listed twice here because, as good as he is most of the time, he could be really bad at others, especially in big games. As much as Murray improved in his second season as a starter, he regressed as far as giving up catastrophic plays. Murray delivered four “pick-six” interceptions in 2011 and his second-half fumbles against Michigan State and LSU in the SEC Championship changed the direction of those games.
- No more Brandon Boykin. The Bulldogs are going to miss their do-everything all-star probably more than they even know. As evidenced by his MVP performance in the Outback Bowl, Boykin was truly a force to be reckoned with on offense, defense and on special teams. Fellow cornerback Branden Smith is in position to fill that role in 2012, but it may be years before an athlete as versatile as Boykin comes through UGA again.
- The Wild West. Even if Georgia repeats as SEC East champions – a determination the 11-win South Carolina Gamecocks will surely have a say in – it will have to get through one of the wicked witches of the West to a BCS opportunity. Alabama, Arkansas and LSU are expected to reload for next season. And Auburn’s record in years after the Crimson Tide has won a national title is astounding.
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118 comments Add your comment
JB
January 13th, 2012
3:27 pm
Tech returning 15 starters….Not a good headline for them
duronimo
January 13th, 2012
3:27 pm
Pretty good analysis. I’m not sure what the deal is with the offensive line. It’s a long standing problem. The highly rated players we’re been getting are being regularly beaten by smaller, less recruited people. Whomever the “decider” has been on these players, he needs to reconsider his parameters.
Hot Dawg
January 13th, 2012
3:28 pm
Zach Mettenberger is going to make Richt wished that he kicked Murray off the team instead.
SC
January 13th, 2012
3:29 pm
UGA will never be the best until they play and beat the best. Why get excited about a schedule that dodges the best teams in the SEC. Keep dreaming. JOKE.
AltamahaDawg
January 13th, 2012
3:29 pm
I don’t see the Optimistic factors turning sour on us, and I can see us overcoming the Pessimistic factors.
Not worried about P#5. Get to the SEC game, worry about it then. We control what we can do, not them.
P#4. I don’t really like having our DB having to be THAT versatile to be honest. I’d rather have the roster filled out.
P#3 will be helped by easing P#2 and with O#2 making it less likely he is even put into that situation.
P#2 will take some work. We do seem to have numbers finally. Bigger concern than some of the others.
P#1 is a matter of numbers, players. And attention. UGA has historically been a very good special teams program, and whatever specific issue there have been with certain components of that, have typically been corrected.
JB
January 13th, 2012
3:30 pm
I don’t know if Zach is the answer at LSU, but I do know they lost that game for one weakness. QB.
SC
January 13th, 2012
3:31 pm
Who would explain it to Bobo?
UGA Insider
January 13th, 2012
3:31 pm
McGarity is pushing for some change on the offensive coaching staff. No word until after NSD however. We have way too much momentum right now.
JB
January 13th, 2012
3:33 pm
Maybe we have some new wrinkles with out new 6′3″ 240 pound QB coming in….I’m hoping Richt doesn’t bury him in the laundry room like he did Knowshon as a Freshman.
JB
January 13th, 2012
3:36 pm
Insider…..I emailed McGarity several times the last week or so about reassigning Bobo to Recruiting Cord., and hiring Mark a stud with a resume to run our offense.
AltamahaDawg
January 13th, 2012
3:37 pm
The laundry room where they seperate the apples from the oranges?
Joey
January 13th, 2012
3:37 pm
JB, right, or just send Bobo anywhere, other than Richt’s office – to get some fresh ideas. This offense is 20+ years old.
AltamahaDawg
January 13th, 2012
3:40 pm
As opposed to that innovative offense that just won the MNC?
JB
January 13th, 2012
3:40 pm
I did tell McGarity that my wife can call about 75% of Bobo’s calls before the ball is snapped. How do you think a DC of the other team does studying tape for 25 hours does?
JB
January 13th, 2012
3:43 pm
Altamaha, you are so right. Bama’s offense is clumsy,dull,boring but works. I think it works because of the OL and running the ball at will, thus making the defense have to cover everything.
RedandBlackDAWG
January 13th, 2012
3:48 pm
S C,
I must be missing something but, I looked in the record books and I can’t seem to find S.C. having won the SEC. I do see one SEC East title, but I can’t find one where they went for all the marbles. Refresh my memory will you? Exactly what the Heck has SC won? It must be the whole thing or otherwise, why would you come onto a blog about UGA and bash that team. I know. I bet it was a mistake by the printer. Surely you would never come onto a UGA blog and act superior and like an idiot, unless of course, SC won it all. I do see where you won the ACC once also. Wow, SC, we are going to have to anoint your school as title town, with that 40-50 year old record.
AltamahaDawg
January 13th, 2012
3:50 pm
That exactly right. And your wife could also call the play at Bama before the snap, if she watced more than a few games.
And please say you were just joking that you email the AD “several times” last week about what HE should do with an assistant coach on one of his HC staff.
JB
January 13th, 2012
3:52 pm
The loneliest shelf in town. The football trophy case in Columbia.
Mad Mike
January 13th, 2012
3:56 pm
huge boykin fan here, huge, but malcolm mitchell can be better. looking forward to next year. go dawgs!
10Dawgs
January 13th, 2012
3:59 pm
JB= Harvey VanDyke
ole yeller
January 13th, 2012
4:00 pm
Like I’v said before clean up Murrary Big game jitters and clean up Bobo play calling the rest will fall in place. Too many horses in the pasture for some of them not run. Thats for both side of the ball/.
Bama mike
January 13th, 2012
4:01 pm
To some our offense is dull and boring but gee golly when the dust clears we averaged over 200 yards rushing and 200 passing. Quarterback had 3rd highest rating in the SEC and ahead of Murray. I would define it more along the lines of balanced. 3rd year in for Murray time for that first signature win.
Bama mike
January 13th, 2012
4:06 pm
Our MO has always been win every play and “make their &ss quit”. You dont do that by throwing sideline routes. Orson Charles was incredibly under-utilized this year. I would have designed some sort of tight-end screen for him. Big physical receiver. Best in the conference at his position in my opinion.
jerry
January 13th, 2012
4:07 pm
One sure thing: There will be no competition at the quarterback position.
Dbalcer
January 13th, 2012
4:07 pm
Gurley did commit. Great news for the DAWGS!! Next season is looking good.
goldwreck
January 13th, 2012
4:10 pm
The difference between Jim McElwain and Mike Bobo is painfully obvious.McElwain coached AJ McCarron up.He was a better quarterback at seaon’s end than he was at the start of the season.You can’t say that about Aaron Murray and his coaches.AM has nervous feet.In my opinion
UGA will never win a big game with him as QB,especially if Bobo is the OC.Look back at the BCS
Championship game to see how an OC adjusts.Alabama started out with McCarron rolling out and passing a short pass to the TE Smelley and continued to keep LSU off balance the entire game.
Coaching does make a difference.McCarron,like AM, is also a redshirt sophomore FWIW.
Joey
January 13th, 2012
4:11 pm
ole yeller, exactly how do you “clean up” jitters. Most athletes that get tight, or can’t control the adrenaline rushes, in big situations, don’t get that way in practice, or in games vs cupcakes.
I’m just saying it’s something we have to get used to with Murray. Richt sure ain’t gonna take him out, even when Murray’s handing the game over on a platter (SC, LSU, Michigan St, and 2 or 3 in ‘10), and is clearly rattled.
Man, I love Murray, especially his toughness, but I also like QBs to LEAD their team. He just hasn’t done that in two seasons, in big games.
Dylan
January 13th, 2012
4:14 pm
Just a little reminder to the guy who is saying UGA has not beat a top 25 team since 2009
Both Auburn and Tech were ranked when UGA played them
Joey
January 13th, 2012
4:15 pm
goldwreck, I just can’t blame Bobo for Murray’s jitters, or bad play in big games. You can’t coach “nerves” away.
Coaches can, however, sit them down and let them try to get control of their emotions. It just hasn’t happened to Murray yet.
Joey
January 13th, 2012
4:17 pm
Dylan, that “stat” just doesn’t mean one, single thing. Who cares if an opponent was ranked 10th when we played them, then at season’s end, they had lost 5 games?
Meaningless.
jp
January 13th, 2012
4:20 pm
ar dog get a grip murray broke ( shattered ) the td pass record in his second year . 35 tds is the sec .if he does not play for us ga is 7-6 this year . we had a sub par run game again with an oline where 4 of 5 starters had never played their spot .keep drinkin that shine and let the coaches coach When you must throw as much as we do you are going to throw picks. Think about it he took out david green (4 yr starter ) in 2 years and thee # 1 pick stafford in 2 seasons .if zack mettenburger was better why is he 3rd string at lsu if mason is better why cant he beat him out .you think mason tosses 35 tds this year .go pull for tech or watch basketball,because it is clear you are clueless
DawginLex
January 13th, 2012
4:32 pm
mettenberger has some serious competition at LSU including a 5 star redshirt Freshman and Gunner Kiel, a 5 star from Indiana
My bet is he will start but will end the year on the bench
Joey
January 13th, 2012
4:44 pm
Speaking of clueless, jp, just how do you know what UGA would have been without Murray this season? You don’t. Next, David Greene won lots of games. More games than any QB in NCAA history, til Colt McCoy passed him a couple of years ago.
He didn’t throw as much as Murray, but also didn’t turn the ball over nearly as much as Murray, hence the WINS.
Murray has to protect the ball better, and yeah, one of these days, beat a good team. He plays his worst in nationally televised games – look at his stats in bowls and big games.
Punk
January 13th, 2012
5:39 pm
@Billo
January 13th, 2012
2:04 pm
and that’s why it’s stupid
BG
January 13th, 2012
5:55 pm
Bring on the west! GO DAWGS!!
jp
January 13th, 2012
7:09 pm
9 in a row you suck hard boy .go pull for tech or on yourself you say a guy that broke the all time td single season passing record at ga by a mile sux. you never played ball in your life and ben dukes played on crappy teams. in murray’s first year our defense was bad . this year he plays with a sub par running game and an o line where 4 of 5 starters are playing a different position from last year. at the end of the season sec coaches ( i guess they know a little more than you ignorant ass) vote him # 2 behind ark qb so they must suck too. It takes a team to win the game .does stafford suck bc fla beat us 49-10 and his is not much better vs top 10 teams. with jerks like you who needs the other teams fans. We won 10 in a row for the first time in 30 years with him as qb and he is only a soph.go pull for tech or on yourself
icedawg
January 13th, 2012
7:37 pm
OL rebuilding is an understatement. A lot hinges upon how this component develops. Without a drastic improvement it will be another frustrating season. Hopefully better days are ahead.
jp
January 13th, 2012
7:38 pm
so joey you think you know more than richt and bobo i guess ( maybe the start murray because they know he is better than our other qbs..just a thought .) look at the uga defense when green was there . we are just getting our defense back i murrays first year we gave up 49 to aub ,31 to ark,34 to fla ovr 30 to coloradoand over 30 to kentucky . How has our run game been these last 2 years joey .not good the only way we have been able to move the ball is murray throwing or running. our o line has been patch work with only jones playing the same position this year as he did last. the truth is murray has been the only way we can score in the last 2 years .if we could hand it off and get more than 51 yard rushing vs mich state he would not have to throw as much .Again quit your day job and go be our OC and start Mason over a qb that threw 35 tds and broke our all time td record by a mile. I guess 10 wins in a row for the first time in 30 years is just awful joey. Go talk to our AD because you know better than richt who to play at qb. (why do you think Mason is going to redshirt ) it must be a conspiracy rigth joey a soph that throws 35 tds with no run game .we know mason would throw 36 tds but only richt and bobo dont get it . That moon shine must be good
Bamadawg
January 13th, 2012
8:26 pm
One of the biggest reasons that will hold the ‘Dogs back is Bobo’s play calling. Definitely over his head…taking a knee on a third down?
bh
January 13th, 2012
9:59 pm
I agree. Bobo is heck of a recruiter, but his play calling is absolutely horrible. Will never win the big one with the conservative, predictable play calling we use.
bigcalidawg
January 14th, 2012
12:08 am
DawginLex
January 13th, 2012
2:21 pm
Excuses are gone boys
Marshall
Crowell
Gurley
Samuel
Malcome
Thomas
4 and 5 star running backs galore. 14 offensive linemen that can all play.
Run the ball. Rotate the QB’s. No turnovers. Let D do its thing.
Atta Boy Lex
wcoastdawg
January 14th, 2012
2:01 am
LS Who…they rode high on big plays and were weakest #1 ever w/exception of BY Who!!
Chris
January 14th, 2012
7:20 am
You forgot pessimistic reasons 6-100…….Bobo!!!!!
For his Career : 11 losses in 27 Starts 41 % lost, holds ball too long, steals 7 carries a game from RB with 1 yard a carry average and 21 Fumbles, 22 Interceptions, 56 Sacks, 0-9 vs teams end up Top 25
January 14th, 2012
7:33 am
“he’s the best QB in the conference”
_________________________________________________
No, he’s not.
Pre ordain ed, that’s a good word like that word.
Georgia tek’s master plan to be competitive is (1) leave The SEC so as not to share in the $20 million per school SEC Revenue Sharing (2) B l o w – u p half their seats at Bobby Dodd stadium they named after a college drop-out (3) In the modern era marked by passing the ball, hire a coach who doesn’t believe in the forward pass (4) sit in a city of 6 million and be unable to talk any of the prospects to come play said high school offense (5) give away 4 bags of roasted peanuts, 4 hot dogs, 2 coco-cola, and moonpie with free parking pass to anyone who buys tickets to a home game (6) only have UGA fans buy their season tickets in years when the game is there, who then throw away every game except one (7) brag about never being on NCAA Probation Ever and then find itself 3 times on NCAA Probation including currently Twice on NCAA Probation in Football back-to-back Repeat Offenders (8) Brag about going to the 3rd Most Bowl Games in a row, then Lose Every Bowl Game 7 seasons in a row (9) Brag about going to a Major Bowl, only to lose it too and remain since 1955 since Georgia tek has Won a Major Bowl (10) brag they have 6 NC in football and all 6 with the same exact polls who has awarded UGA with 6 (11) Never win an AP Poll National Championship Ever (12) brag about hey we’re # 36 national university in the nation and whine when you reply to them that no one brags about being # 36 at nothing (13) play dungeons and dragons and watch star trek while not allowing any post to get past the filters on the Georgia tek blog with the word N e r d in it (14) talk about their academics every time football is brought up between UGA and Georgia tek when none of Georgia tek’s students even know UGA also has Engineering Degrees, nor does anyone know that Georgia tek has no Engineering Degrees for any of their “student-athletes” none of which ever graduate (15) have the Georgia tek football fans (both of them) spend their every day all day in the UGA blog trying to talk about Georgia tek and making statements such as if Paul Johnson had Mark Richt’s players can you imagine how great he’d be when the fact of the matter is, is that that is the very problem he faces that he has no talent, never has and never will. And, they call themselves smart.
zbulldawg
January 14th, 2012
9:39 am
2011 was a GREAT year for a team in transition ! The kicking game will be much improved ! Murray is a work in process He had no running game, a patch work OL & all new receivers Give the young man a break ! The defense will have some depth now ! Don’t forget about the young men named McSwain & Conley ! They too can play both sides of the ball ! This years recruiting class will put the cherry on top ! GO Dawgs LET the Big Dawg EAT
Tech's Coach has Man Boobs
January 14th, 2012
10:51 am
gtfanfrom1951 – guess you are to old to pay attention. What 4 are not going to qualify? If you paid attention the UGA does not offer unless they have received a qualifying score for admittance. That is part of the reason it takes longer to get an offer from UGA. I would explain more but off to investigate the rape that just happened on GT’s campus.
Gdawg
January 14th, 2012
10:59 am
I love the addition of really good talent! Our D will be one of the sickest units EVER @ UGA next year. The only problem I can see is our Offensive Coordinator. I like Mike Bobo personally. He a good guy. I can’t tell you the frustration I have had with his play-calling. If I see another 3rd and long draw play, I think I’m going to be sick. Kneeling down on 3rd down in the bowl game?? Come on! We need a top-level O-coordinator to make a real run at a National Title. UGA has to get serious about it or we don’t stand a chance against real defenses (AL, LSU). I feel bad for Bobo because if 3 TD passes weren’t dropped in the 1st half of the SECCG, we may have been able to win that game…just possibly.
Columbia Dawg
January 14th, 2012
2:07 pm
Chip,
Had I been asked to write Reason for Pessimism #3 – Aaron Murray, the gist of it would have been identical to your observations. As good as he is, his mistakes are regularly catastrophic. I’d love to hear Mark Richt’s answer to a question about what they’re doing to change that. Murray trying to pull away from Jadeveon Clowney late against USC versus protecting the ball was extremely poor judgement. And when he decides to take off running in traffic, he’s got to cover the ball with both arms. He’s proven he cannot hold onto the ball with one arm when he takes a big hit.
Jim
January 14th, 2012
3:01 pm
Hopefully CMB will take note that Grantham is has a three year contract and working on an extention while he is still working on year to year. The bottom line is production pays so watch and learn Mike. Running back looks good but only as the O line protects and opens holes will they produce. I still would like to see a wishbone formation with our backs. Still think it would work last year with Crowell, Samuel, and Figgins. Defense is looking good also. Score TDs and keep the FG kicker on the bench.
Spike 80DF
January 14th, 2012
4:07 pm
sorry Jim, the wishbone would be a nice twist but our OC does not deviate from the same set of plays he always runs.
1st down and 10: downfield pass that takes too long to develop, incomplete.
2nd down and 10: obvious run between the tackles, gain 3 yards.
3rd down and 7: play action pass even though no one in the stadium is fooled by the fake. Murray sets but is under pressure since the D-ends know the pass is coming. He scrambles around and either turns it over or incomplete pass.
4th and 7: All American Drew Butler booms a 55 yarder.
If I was a high school field goal kicker I’d love to play for the Dawgs as much as we settle for FG attempts….